Master of Science Student
What inspired you to become a nurse?
I always felt called to be a nurse, but for years I was too afraid to take the leap. Then everything changed during a season of heartbreaking loss; first my grandma after a hip fracture and hospice, then my uncle suddenly from a pulmonary embolism, and finally my dad from acute liver failure due to Hep B. I’ll never forget being the one to make the decision to withdraw his care. In those final moments, a nurse was so unkind to me, and it broke me. I promised myself right then that no patient or family would ever feel the way I did in that room. That pain became my purpose, and it’s what drove me into nursing. Over time, that purpose has grown, not just to care for patients and families with compassion, but also to pour into future nurses and guide them to be their very best.
What is the best thing about Mount Carmel College of Nursing?
The best thing about Mount Carmel College of Nursing is the flexibility and the kindness of the professors. They truly support me and want to see me succeed, which makes all the difference and sets them apart from other places I’ve attended where you feel like just another number in the system.
What are your goals for your nursing career?
My goals for my nursing career continue to grow and change, and I think that’s the beauty of this profession. Nursing gives you so many opportunities to shift directions when you feel burnt out or when life takes you somewhere new. Right now, I’ve found so much joy in teaching students in the clinical setting because it feels like I’m pouring into the next generation of nurses. Someday, I’d love to step into the classroom as well. More than anything, my goal is to keep finding spaces in nursing where I can make an impact and remind others why this work matters.
What advice would you give your younger self?
If I could give my younger self advice, I’d say: trust your gut and don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. For too long I let fear and doubt hold me back, when deep down I already knew the path I was meant to take. I’d remind myself that the things that matter most are always worth the courage it takes to pursue them.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in nursing?
I’d tell someone considering a career in nursing to know their “why.” It doesn’t have to be a dramatic story, but you need something deep enough to hold onto. Nursing is HARD…it will stretch you physically, mentally, and emotionally in ways you can’t imagine. There will be days you feel drained and wonder if you can keep going. But the reward is incredible. In those moments, your “why” becomes your anchor and the reminder of why you chose this path and why it’s worth giving your whole heart to on the worst days.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I stepped away from the program in fall of 2022 because life was heavy and full. Since then, we’ve had the incredible joy of welcoming our daughter, Abigail Lenore, who completed our family alongside her big brother Benjamin. We also walked through deep heartbreak as we lost my father-in-law after a short fight with renal cell carcinoma. Through both the highs and the lows, finishing school has never left my heart and it’s always been unfinished business I knew I would return to. My husband and I realized it was okay for me to choose Sarah for a while, and I’ve learned that sometimes pressing pause isn’t giving up…it’s giving yourself the grace to keep going when the time is right. We all have our own stories and challenges, but we share the same spirit of perseverance and that’s what makes this community so strong.